Supreme Court sets Sept. 5 hearing on charter school funding

A case affecting funding for more than 30 Louisiana charter schools is set for arguments Sept. 5 before the state Supreme Court.

Charter schools are tax-funded public schools operated by independent organizations under charters approved by state or local education officials. At issue in September’s hearing will be funding for charters approved by Louisiana’s Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, rather than local school boards.

The state has been funding the schools through its annual funding formula approved by the Legislature. Some local education officials and a teachers union argued in lawsuits that the formula is meant to fund local school districts. They say using it to fund state-approved charters violates Louisiana’s constitution.

An appeals court agreed in January, but has allowed the funding to continue pending appeals.